Cotton picker mechanism housing structure



July 7, 1953 P. J. HuLsEBr-:RG ErAL 2,544,285

COTTON PICKER MCHANISM .HOUSING STRUCTURE Filed miren 1-. 1951 INVENToRs seing ,3 730e Patented July 7, QS

COTTON PICKER MECHANISM HOUSING STRUCTURE Paul J. Hulseberg and Charles W. Roehm, Memphis, Tenn., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 1, 1951, Serial No. 213,452

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a cotton picker of the type shown in E. A. Johnston U. S. Patent 2,140,631 issued December 20, 1938, and more particularly to a novel arrangement and improved support of the mechanism contained in the picker housing.

A general object of the invention is to provide a housing head or support of such apparatus of a design which may be easily and economically fabricated preferably from sheet steel components, and to further provide a novel arrangek ment of the apparatus with connections to the support which add tothe strength thereof.

. A further object is to' devise a durable support of skeletal construction which combines :lightweight with an effective distribution of the material to achieve a rigid, strong and compact structure.

Another object is to support the main bearing assemblies of the picker drum mechanism on the internal bracing of the housing head.

A still further object is to provide a structural unit having a peripheral framework with an interlacing of braces therein consisting of straight interconnected beams arranged to clear various parts of the mechanism and at the same time afford an adequate support and mounting therefor.

A more specicobject is to devise an arrangement requiring few cross braces which are disposed in an effective relationship to withstand the loads imposed thereagainst.

The invention contemplates an arrangementv wherein the components of the casing head and the mechanism therein vare connected to each other in mutually cooperating relationship. Furthermore, the invention comprehends mounting each picker drum from a cam member which is arranged to form a connection between several members of the bracing structure.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view with parts broken away of a picker assembly with the cover plate removed, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse Vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. y

Describing the invention in detail, the cotton picker comprises a housing or polygonal shell 2, the shape of which may best be seen in Figure l, and is formed of interconnected at generally vertical sections consisting of a front panel or paneling 4 and rearwardly diverging side panels or paneling 6 and 8 extending from opposite vertical edges of panel 4. Panel 6 has a rear section I0 which extendsfsubstantially perpendicular to forward panel 4 and merges at its rear edge with an adjacent `lateral edge of a -rear panel segment I2 extending generally parallel to front panel I0. Segment I2 is part of a rear panel or paneling structure generally indicated I4, which additionally comprises an outwardly angledpanel segment VI6 extending forwardly from the opposite lateral edge of vsegment I2 and merging with the rear edge of a more sharply outwardly angled panel I8 which connects at its forward edge with the rear edge of panel 8. The contour ofthe shell is determined by the mechanism contained therein and is designed to enclose' the mechanism with the least amount of material while maintaining flat sections. The forwardly offset rear side at the right of Figure l is designed to accommodate a wheel of an associated tractor upon which thepicker is mounted as shown in A. W. Scarratt, et al., U. S.

Patent 2,352,291 issued June 27, 1944 for .CottonY Harvester. l

Each panel is inwardly flanged at its upper end as at I9 to provide a mounting and securement for a stop cover 20. The flangeof each panel is preferably connected to the adjacent flanges Yas by welding at 24, 24.

A skeletal. support frame structure, generally designated 26, is provided within the shell and spaced beneath the cover 20. The structure comprises a U-section main brace, strut or beam-23 which extends Agenerally horizontally across the width of the shell and defines a trapezoidal construction with the panels 4, 6 and-8 and at opposite ends is connected, preferably as by welding, to the panels 6 and 8. O-ppositely directed generally horizontal auxiliary or branch struts or beams 30 and 32 are located at opposite sides of the main beam 28 and form with the beam 28 guadrants within the shell.

Strut 30 extends rearwardly from beam 28 and is connected at its forward end as by welding at 34 to the rear side of beam 28 in an area` substantially medially between the ends thereof. The other outer or rear end of strut 39 is connected as by welding at 36 to segment I6 of panel structure I4 adjacent thev forwardly directed corner construction at 38 formed by the juncture of segment I6 with panel I8 which provides a relatively rigid area. Strut 30 is substantially perpendicular to beam 28 which is approximately parallel to panel 4.

lStrut 32 extends generally parallel topanel 6 3 between panel 4 and the forward side of beam 28 and is connected at its rear end by welding as at 40 to the Vmain beam 28 in an area intermediate the middle of beam 28 and the end thereof connected to panel 6. The outer or forward end of strut 32 is connected as by welding to the panel 4 intermediate the ends thereof slightly .to the right of center as seen Fig. 1. 'The arrangement of strut 32 provides rigidity and resistance to the rearward thrust of the plants entering the front of therunit. The strut 32 is strengthened by an auxiliary brace or strut 42 extendin'gjbetween panel 6 and strut 32 generally parallel to beam 28. The outer end of .member Y42 isxconnected as by welding to panel 6 Vin an area interf mediate its connection with beam '-28 :and `said panel 4. 44 to strut 32 intermediate the ends thereof. The forward corner formed by the panels f4 'and 6 is strengthened by a secondary or an auxiliary strut or beam Y46 'extending .substantially perpendicular to strut 42. The innerend of Ystrut ""46Lisxweldedas-at148 to :strut 42 intermediate the keyed :thereto :adjacent "the .upper iend thereof.

The shaft 56 :has its :lower 'end-'connected to fa drum vcarrier '60 for rotating 'the same together with Vspindle .carrying hollow tubes 62 which `are arranged to oscillate .'inpredetermined manne-rfas specified iin the `Abefore mentioned Johnston patent in order to properly venter `and Withdraw the .spindles V64, l64 :carried .thereby .with respect to a .cotton plantan'd to position the fspindles .in proper doiflng relationship with doifers .6.6 for efciently stripping r.the cotton from :the spindles. The oscillatory .movements of each .spindle Ycarrier 6'2 are l'controlled ibyia crank arm "68 thereof 'havin'gra roller f'l!) .guided 'within fa 4cam 'track 12in a bearing carrier or reaction element im. VThe shape` ro'f the track fis -as "shown 'iin 'the Johnston patent. Each st of 'spindlesl64 are .rotated byfa driving shaft and gearing assembly 116. 'rEach assembly -16 'Y has a gear TIS :at Yits Vupper fend 'in toothed .engagement with. a -ge ar B .carried by the lower fend fof v`a Asleeve '82 which :is :supported `on a Tbearing assembly 84 through shouldered engagemeritat 86 -withv'an outer race38 of Vthe'bearing 84, thefinner race seating fon 'a shoulder'90 on shaft f`6. Sleeve A82 sur-rounds shaft E56 vand at 'its upper' end extends Vthrough the "associated element `Hl and is connected to `a sprocket 92 which is rotatably mounted about shaft-56 a bearing assembly 94, the "sprocket 92 having a sleeve 96 which .has a splined connection '98 at its Ylower end with vthe upper end of l'Sleeve 82. The adjacent .ends of sleeves 86 ,and 92 .-Iit in'to aninner race |00 `ofmain bearing .|02 and ,have shouldered vengagement therewith. The outer race -.|03 of .the .bearing |02 is supported asona shoulder .m4-at :the bottomofa cup .|06 formed at .approximately the .center .of .the associated element `71.4. 4As best :seen in Fig. 2, .it visj-eyident that all thrust on the shaft :56 andthe parts carried thereby .is .transmitted .to .the element 14,

The inner end of strut 42 is -welded at 4 and that the shaft 56 rotates independently of the sprocket 92 and the gear 80 rotated thereby.

The reaction element 14 of the picker unit 50 is t lformed by :the members 28 and 30 thus rigidifying the-structure. The point ||2 is located in triangular relationship With the points |08 and ||0 and is in the form of a bolt threaded into a tube |20 which is welded to and forms part of a standoff mounting |22 connected as by welding to the rear cpanel Y:section l2 intermediate the 1ends thereof. Thus, :it vwillbe seen'zthat the member Mffof the unit .50 al'sov'strengfthens the rear :side of the `shell formedfby the panel segment I|-9..

The :member :1:4 .fof the unit 52 also ,has a -three point mounting at |24, |26, and `|i2'8. Thefm'ounting ,at |24 comprises Vaioolt threaded into a'sleeve ldtvhich secured as :by'weldin'g vat |352 to the main `beam 28 at a 'point intermediate "the end thereof connected to panel 8 Vand its connection with .the strut 30. The esleeve .|524 iis also weld connected as 'at It to a Trib|36 Whichi's connected to 'beam 28 vand .to panel .18 intermediate therends .ofthe latter. 'rPo-int |26 comprises a bolt threaded into .fa sleeve tt rwelded .to for-m part ofxa :stand-nii moiunting |40 lat the 'apex Aof divergent legs thereof Ywhicl'i open .to a corner formed between panels 4 and 8, one of these legs being Yconnecte-d to ipa/nel r4 and ithe other to panel 8. Pointl also comprises .a bolt threaded into a sleeve |42 which is Welded as at '|44 to 'the strut :32 VLintermediate`the ends thereof and .more specifically between its .areas fof .connection tto panelf land-fthe member 42 :adjacent to the latter. It :will ibe :seen that fthe points |14, .|326 and :|28 are arranged inftriangular relationship `and Athat between 'points H124 :and .1:28 the member T4 -.of unit 52 extends across the corner .formed ibetween ltheibeam members 28 Yand i3 2; `All-thefbolts |'|`0, LLI-2,126, |26 and 1|28 zgo .through plate The drive arrangement for the :units -50` and -5'2 isarrange'd to .obtain fan :advantageous =stress1con dition 1in vthe braci-ng structure `and enclosing shell. lThe .driving assembly fgeneral-ly indicated 4.6 Iincludes 1a :sha'ft'ill fcarryingiat'its upper-'end a sprocket Y|5|l :which is yarranged 'to `drive the spin-d1e-zcarrying 'drums of fthe picker units 50 andv 5-2. The assembly 4|86 rotates inaA clockwise direction Fig.r1.:and theJgear |50 nasa-chain |52 trained ion'the rea/r side'thereo'f :facing .away'ffrom memberf2'8. The chain |2521is trainedon the fforward side of sprocket 15"8 fof vunit 50 adjacent f'to beam 28 :and then'extendsaround thefrearof'an Idler'spro'cket'd :mounted fon 1a stand-olf mounting |56 connected to panel segment `|0 adjacent to :the corner 'formed thereby-'With the cpanel l| 2. rllhe chain '|52 then passessaround lthe outboard side of an idler |58 mounted on a 'stand-01T mountingl |60 :connected ftoipanel i6 adjacent its juncturewith -panelegment 0. 'Ihe fchainfthen extendsY diagonally iorwardly :and :is 'trained around ...the lforward, outboard land `crear sides :of sprocket 58.of forward picker v.unit-52 rotatingzthe drum 60 .thereof in a counter-clockwisedirection.

The chain 52 then passes around a forward and lateral side of an idler sprocket |62 rotatably mounted to a beam |64 connected as by welding to the top of member 14 of picker unit 52. Chain |52 continues to its initial starting point around sprocket |50.

The drive assembly |46 also comprises adjacent to the upper end thereof a sprocket |66 connected to shaft |48 and driving a chain |68 trained around the rear and lateral sides thereof. The chain |68 passes around lateral and forward sides of an idler sprocket rotatably mounted to beam member |64. The chain |68 continues laterally around the rear and outboard side of a sprocket |12 mounted on the upper end of the shaft |14 of the doffer mechanism of unit 52 and generally indicated |16 and comprising bearing means including a bearing housing |18 mounted on a plate |80 disposed below the bracing means and connected as by bolts |82 to inturned anges |84 of the panels of the housing. L'ach doffer mechanism |16 includes the doiers 66 heretofore mentioned. The chain |68 continues around the forward side of sprocket 92 of unit 52 and returns to sprocket |66 of the drivingmechanism.

Driving assembly |46 also comprises a sprocket |86 connected to shaft |48 which drives a chain |88 trained around the front and rear and lateral side of sprocket |86. around the forward side of sprocket 92 of the unit 50 and continues rearwardly around the rear side of an idler sprocket |90 mounted on the before-mentioned stand-off mounting |56, said chain V|88 passing -around the outboard side of sprocket |90 and then around the inboard side of sprocket |12 of doffer |16 of picker unit 50 and which is identical with the doffer |16 of unit 52 as heretofore described. It will be seen that the drum of unit 50 and the doffer assembly |16 thereof are driven in a counterclockwise direction and that the drum of unit 52 and the doffer mechanism thereof |16 are driven in a clockwise direction. The chain |88 then continues around the outboard side of an idler sprocket |92 rotatably mounted on the before-mentioned stand-off mounting |60 and the chain |88 continues to its initial starting point around sprocket |86. The moistener means |94 of the respective units 50 and 52 are both driven in a clockwise direction by means of the chain |52 which meshes with a transmission gear assembly |96 rotatably mounted on the beam |64 and driving a chain |98 which passes around sprockets 200, 200 of the moistener assemblies |94 and suitably Chain |88 is trained arranged idler sprockets 202 and 204. The moistener assemblies and the idler sprockets 202 and 204 are suitably mounted through sleeves on the plate |80, the sleeves being bolted to the plate. The moistener assemblies may beof the type shown in the before-mentioned Johnston patent.

What is claimed is:

1. A cotton picker framework comprising a polygonal shell lying in a single plane, a frame disposed within the shell comprising a main beam member connected at opposite ends to opposite sides of said shell, a pair of oppositely extending struts at opposite sides of said main beam member projecting angularly therefrom and connected at one endV thereto in an area intermediate its ends and at the opposite end to an opposed portion of the shell thus forming quadrants in saidshell, reaction elements disposed in diagonally opposed quadrants between said main beam member and an adjacent strut and the shell and connected therewith, each element having an' opening therethrough, an upright cotton picker mechanism beneath each element, each mecha' nism comprising an upright shaft projected through said opening in the associated element, bearing means about each shaft .intermediate its ends and carried on the related element within the opening therein in a region substantially in the horizontal plane of said frame, each shaft having an upper end projecting above said frame,

sprocket means `connected to the upper end of the shaft, drive transmitting means operably associated with said sprocket means, each shaft` Referensfoited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,802,022 Johnston et al Apr. 21, 1931 2,140,631 Johnston Dec. 20, 1938 2.259.894

Johnston Oct. .21.r 1941 

